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How to Make Starter Pots from Newspapers

Spring is not yet in the air up in GriggsDakota, but let's try to rush the season a bit and start some seed indoors! Joy belongs to optimists.

My neighbor taught a group of us how to make these starter pots. It takes a can of the appropriate size, old newspaper and tape. A soup can works perfectly.

Use a single sheet. Farm papers work well in Griggs Dakota.

Fold the sheet in half, bring the double edge up about 1/2 inch from the folded edge and crease the bottom.

Fold down the half inch top down.

Place the top on the can and roll.

Tape the seam to form a cylinder. The folded edge becomes the top of your pot.

Turn the can onto its top and fold the bottom in place.

Tape to hold the bottom together.

Remove the can.

A starter pot.

I'm trying these this year for the first time. The folded down top helps hold their shape even when wet. The pots seem to work just as well as peat pots and they are almost free.

I water liberally to get the seeds to sprout and often cover with plastic while the seeds germinate. These will disintegrate in your garden, so you can set your plant in with the pot. No chance of disturbing tender roots.